Posts that violate the guidelines or Terms and conditions of
Use of the Missing-lynx.com discussion groups will be
erased, and repeated violation of this policy may result in
termination of the violator's account.

FYI: New Academy 1/35th Hetzer....

box art shown on Armorama, kit #13230, listed as Late Producation Version and due out this year...we'll see. Since I never even saw the Tamiya Hetzer, it was gone before I had the money. I wonder what Academy will charge...either way I have my stash to build, but no Hetzer's there either. Mike

Still Listed in their Catalog

I just built one over the holidays. It is a mid version, and apart from the fact it doesn't have photoetch, is easily on par with any other manufacturer's Hetzer. It is not and Italeri rebox by any means.

I picked one up for $40 at one of my LHS in Toronto, and saw it for sale just after xmas for $35 at another one.

Chuck

------
Chuck Rothman
Former AMPS Webmaster
Former AMPS Boresight Editor
Now just a regular AMPS member

Why bother Academy?

January 11 2012, 12:53 PM

Since the DML Hetzers (actually Panzerjager 38s if we're being correct) are all excellent basic kits with nice detail (early, late and command) and all being a nice accurate base for some extra detailing, the Tamiya one almost perfect and currently the only plastic rundumfueuer-MG-maker of any note until DML's late StuGs appear, the Eduard one having some faults but with a complete interior....

one has to ask, Academy, why bother with such mouldmaking overkill? I'll lay bets it's not as good as the Tamiya one...

It isnt the kit its the brand

January 12 2012, 7:33 AM

When I had my shop I noticed different modelers bought different brands of kits for different reasons. Academy kits often sold because they were cheaper, had interiors, rubber tracks. Tamiya kits sold because they were good. Dragon kits often did not sell because they were overly complicated for the average modeler, but experienced modelers bought them because of the link tracks, metal parts, etc. You could have a Hetzer from Dragon, Academy and Tamiya and three different types of modeler may go for any one.

Re: It isnt the kit its the brand

January 12 2012, 1:41 PM

Well, I only have one criterion for buying a kit - is it the best in terms of detail? Price doesn't enter into it. Tamiya's would be the top of the current 38 list, followed by DML's, then Eduard's (purely for the interior basis), then Trumpeter's and finally the Italeri 'update'. It will be interesting to see where Academy's fits in this list. Now, if Tristar or Tasca produced a 'late' 38 (or DML retooled theirs), or if Tamiya produced a late variant of their own model, I would buy it without hesitation as I would expect something outstanding in the way of detail accuracy or options.

I didn't 'complain' at the launch of the Trumpeter kit (though it has a nasty, bland feel), and I'm not 'complaining' at an Academy one any more than I would 'complain' at a Tasca/Tristar version. I am merely commenting that, given the enormous cost of tooling a completely new kit (even the relatively simple 38 will be $100s of 1000s for the tooling) why, with at least a half dozen Hetzers available on the market or through ebay, Academy feels it worth producing a new one (given that their effort will in all probability not be better than Tamiya's or DML's) and so the chances of them recouping their investment and going into profit is lessened within such a crowded market.

Btw, as you well know, Tamiya produced their Jagdtiger kits because DML had delisted theirs. So from then it was (and is) the only one actually in production (at least at the premium end, no doubt someone else makes one somewhere so please nobody post in with some czech maker's).

But different people buy for different reasons

January 13 2012, 1:13 PM

People who populate forums like this probably make up 10% of model sales. You might consider a particular kit "best" for one reason while someone else has different criteria. Price can be a big factor. Or other preferences. For example, I had bought the Tristar Panzer IV D. I thought it was a pretty crappy kit actually... multi part lower hull which was warped, the wrong wheel parts, etc. So, I recently found the new Italeri Panzer 38(t) cheap. For $25 its pretty nice and suits my needs. Its got enough detail to be workable, has some basic p-e, decent link and length tracks, basic interior in the box, good decals. So I am happy.

The British Valentine is about as bad as the Hetzer... there are tons of kits of that thing now by just about anyone.

Sure...

January 15 2012, 5:08 AM

Yes I understand that and agree with you. Dragon don't always get it right either - witness the now notorious 6264 Pz.Kpfw.IV ausf.E kit with its mass of errors, launched as it was on the back of DML's disgraceful PR campaign knocking Tristar's much superior effort. I had the misfortune of buying the original and uncorrected 6264 and it's amazing just how 'wrong' Dragon got it.

I don't want to sound elitist, as many people can't afford and/or don't want the sheer complexity of of a Dragon or Tristar kit. I just suppose that we are a bit overfed with certain vehicle types and still undernourished in others (at least in the accuracy stakes) which is why I mentioned a Tamiya/Tasca M10 for instance.

yes I would agree too nt

Wendy's, McDonalds, .....

January 11 2012, 6:38 PM

....What-a-burger, Hardee's, Five-Guys, A and W, etc, etc, etc. You pick your favorite burger vendor. You could then say why should the other burger makers even bother. I freeely admit that I want any and every kit I might ever desire. Every other modeler wants that too! Academy makes some nice kits. Rather than curse them for making a 1/35 scale kit of something produced in many versions by at least six other companies, I will welcome the new release and hope it is really nice.

Makes sense if so...

January 12 2012, 6:48 AM

At least then it would give the maker an opportunity to make this unique variant (the true 'Hetzer' as this name was intended for the 38 Starr) or as a regular 38 with relatively easy changes given the amount of AM stuff for the 38. I at least hope it comes with a f**koff flammenvernichter exhaust, which is where the DML and Eduard ones fall down. If so I may buy one myself haha...